Gate.



No. 774,963. r PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

A. E. AI-RHART.

GATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1904.

H0 MODEL.

Httomegs U ITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,963, dated November15, 1904. Application filed May 9, 1904. Serial No. 207,138. N0 model.)

1'0 (1 66 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ELMER AIRHART, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cheney, in the county of Spokane and State ofWashington, have inventeda new and useful Gate, of which the followingis aspecification. I

My invention relates to gates, and especially to an improved mechanismfor operating the same, and has for its objects to produce acomparatively simple inexpensive device of this character whereby thegate may be readily opened" or closed at points on either side of andremote therefrom and one wherein the gate will be securely locked inclosed position.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of constructionand combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gateembodying my invention and showing the same closed. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of the gate-operating member.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a frame disposed upon one sideof and extending parallel with the roadway and comprising a pair ofupright posts or standards 2 3, connected at their upper ends by ahorizontal overhead rail or timber 4L and between their lower ends by asimilar rail or timber 5, attention being directed to the fact that theframe-post 2 constitutes in practice the hingepost for the gate.

Disposed on the far side of the roadway from the frame 1 and oppositethe post 2 is a vertical latch-post or standard 6, between which and thepost 2 the gate 7 normally closes. This gate, which is hinged as hereinshown or in other suitable manner to the post 2, comprises an innervertical transverse end bar 8, an outer transverse bar 9, a plurality ofhorizontal slats or rails 10, and a diagonal brace 11, the rails 10,which are spaced vertically one above another and extended between thebars 8 and 9, being projected at their outer or forward ends beyond thelatter, as at 12, and adapted to normally rest in suitable sockets orseats 13, provided in the post 6 to receive them when the gate isclosed. It is to be noted that under this construction the gate will bepositively prevented from sagging at its outer end and that the hingeswill be relieved of practically the entire weight of the gate.

For operating the gate 1 provide a primary operating member or lever14:, preferably formed from strap metal bent to substantially triangularform, as shown, to comprise a pair of outwardly-convergent side membersor portions 15, connected at their inner ends by an end member orportion 16, carrying a pair of spaced eyes or members 17, which engagesimilar members for pivotally connecting the lever 14 to the timber 5.The lever 14:, which is adapted to swing on its pivot in a verticalplane and has connected with its outer or forward end a pair of flexibleoperating ropes or elements 18, has the forward ends of its sideportions 15 spaced to receive a secondary operating bar or member 19,which is pivoted adjacent to its longitudinal center between them bymeans of a bolt or pintle 20, said member being in turn pivotallyconnected with the gate, as at 21, and having its rear end notched orotherwise formed, as at 22, for engagement with the end portion 16 ofthe primary lever. It is to be noted that the secondary member 19 ispivoted slightly forward of its longitudinal center, whereby the greaterportion of its weight will fall in rear of its pivotal point, thuscausing it when the gate is closed to automatically assume a positionparallel with the lever 14' and with its rear notched end 22 inengagement with the end bar 16 of the latter, while the operatingropes18, which are connected with the forward end of the lever 14 at a pointnormally in advance of the pivot 20, are extended through suitablepulleys 23, sustained by the frame 1, and to points sufliciently remotefrom the gate for the latter to be opened or closed by a person seatedin a vehicle or on horseback. without dismounting.

In practice, supposing the gate to be closed, a pull exerted upon eitherof the operatingropes swings the primary lever 1d on its pivot andcauses it to break joint with the member or lever 19 and inaugurate,through the medium of the latter, the opening movement of the gate. Themember 14: having reached its vertical position, the momentum acquiredby the member 19 causes the latter to swing the lever 14: past center,when the weight of the parts will automatically complete the openingmovement. A similar action follows during the closing of the gate, andthe latter when completely closed is locked in such position, owing tothe rear end of lever 19 engaging with the lever 14 in the mannerheretofore explained.

It is to be particularly observed that the pin or operating-lever 14:extends diagonally rearward and outward from the gate and has itspivotal axis arranged in ahorizontal plane and at right angles orperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate when closed, whilethe secondary or traction lever 19 is pivoted adjacent to the free endof the lever 14:. It is obvious from this arrangement that during theopening movement of the gate the fulcrum 20 of the lever 19 will beconstantly shifted in an arc of a circle described by the outer end ofthe lever 14, this are being in a direction away from the advancingmovement of the gate,whereby the lever 19 will be caused to exertthroughout such movement a direct and continuous traction on the gate,whereas during closing of the latter the movement of the parts will bereversed and the lever 19 caused to exert a direct and continuous forcefor closing the gate.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensivedevice admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, itbeing understood that. minor changes may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A gate, asupport, a primary operatinglever of substantially triangular shapepivotally connected at its base with the support and having itsconverging arms spaced apart and extended diagonally toward the gate, asecondary lever pivoted between the converging arms of the primarylever, the pivotal axis of the latter being arranged in a horizontalplane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate whenclosed, and a pivotal connection between the secondary lever and thegate.

2. A gate, a support, a primary operatinglever of substantiallytriangular shape pivotally connected at its base with the support andhaving its converging arms spaced apart and extended diagonally towardthe gate, a secondary lever pivoted between the converging arms of theprimary lever, and a pivotal connection between the secondary lever andthe gate, said secondary lever being provided with a terminal recessadapted to engage the support for locking the gate in closed position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT ELMER AIRHART.

Witnesses:

(J. C. RICHARDSON, J. E. BURBANK.

